How a Federal Government Shutdown Could Affect Agriculture

Sep 29, 2023

As U.S. House and U.S. Senate leadership still try to reach an agreement on a short-term funding measure to avert a partial government shutdown, we thought it might be helpful to outline impacts of a shutdown for agriculture. If a shutdown were to occur, there would likely be additional guidance from various agencies. MCGA will post updates as they become available.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA Rural Development, Natural Resources Conservation Services, and state and local Farm Service Agency offices would close. FSA would not be able to do any sign-ups, acre reporting, processing, or payments, including farm loan applications and processing.
The Risk Management Agency would also likely close. As outlined in a memo to insurance providers at the start of a previous shutdown, RMA staff would not be available to provide guidance to insurers or farmers. RMA would not maintain and support policy processing and acceptance for insurance providers, nor would RMA make any reimbursements to insurance companies. Private companies could continue to pay insurance indemnities.
The Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) would not publish various market and data reports. The National Agriculture Statistics Service would likely delay or cancel various data releases and reports. Weekly crop reports would not be issued, and depending how long the shutdown lasts, the monthly WASDE reports could also be impacted.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) employees who work in export certifications and whose salaries are covered by user fees (such as export certifications) would remain operational. Other employees, such as those at certain research facilities and overseas, may be considered essential and not be furloughed.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.